Poseidonion Grand Hotel

The hotel boasts comfortable, luxurious rooms with stunning sea views and balcony options. Guests laud the delicious breakfast buffet and exceptional, friendly staff. Its convenient island location is perfect for exploration.

Unfortunately this hotel is very much not a 5 star experience. It is beautiful and well-located but the service is deeply lacking and the noise unbearable in the partial sea view rooms. Loud music every night until 1am and on our final night there was an unbelievably loud event happening right under our window which the hotel did not advise us of when booking. We were offered an alternative room (also very loud) or a free drink / room service, neither were acceptable. If you want to stay at this hotel I would recommend the garden view rooms but it would be better to stay elsewhere and save your money.

*A seasoned traveler's perspective on one of Greece's most historic luxury hotel* --- ## The Promise and the Property The Poseidonion Hotel on the Greek island of Spetses presents itself as a monument to hospitality excellence. Built in 1914 and recently restored to its former glory, this grand dame of Greek hospitality occupies prime real estate on Spetses' picturesque harbor, offering guests a front-row seat to one of the Mediterranean's most charming settings. The property itself is undeniably stunning. The Belle Époque architecture, meticulously restored interiors, and commanding presence along the waterfront create an atmosphere of timeless elegance that few hotels can match. The rooms, priced at premium five-star rates, reflect this architectural grandeur with their period details and harbor views. From a purely aesthetic standpoint, the Poseidonion deserves every accolade it receives. ## The Service Paradox However, having experienced genuine five-star service at properties across the globe—from the seamless precision of the Peninsula Hotel Beverley Hills to the intuitive hospitality of Aman resorts to The Grande Bretagne in Athens and many others — the disconnect between the Poseidonion's physical magnificence and its service delivery becomes starkly apparent. The fundamental issue lies not with the individual staff members, but with a systemic approach to training and service standards that falls short of international five-star expectations. During our stay, a consistent pattern emerges: young, well-meaning staff who appear to lack the fundamental training necessary to deliver the level of service that guests rightfully expect when paying premium rates. ## Language as a Barrier to Excellence In today's luxury hospitality landscape, multilingual capability isn't just preferable—it's essential. The inability of many staff members to communicate effectively in English creates unnecessary friction in even the simplest interactions. When a guest requests extra towels or asks about restaurant reservations, the resulting confusion and misunderstandings diminish the luxury experience significantly. This language barrier becomes particularly problematic in dining situations, where nuanced requests about dietary preferences, wine pairings, or special occasions are met with blank stares or, worse, incorrect assumptions that can ruin carefully planned evenings. ## The Art of Anticipatory Service—Lost in Translation True five-star service is characterised by anticipation rather than reaction. Staff should glide through spaces with purpose, constantly observing and responding to guests' unspoken needs. At the Poseidonion, however, one often observes groups of staff engaged in animated conversations among themselves, seemingly oblivious to their surroundings. The sight of personnel checking personal mobile phones while guests enter the lobby or wait for assistance would be unthinkable at Savoy Florence, The Four Seasons Paris or The Grand